Home. The word conjures images of sanctuary, of support, of comfort. A place where, when the door closes between you and the outside world, you know you are in your space, a place where your family can rest, share a satisfying warm meal and spend quiet time together.
But what if unforeseen life circumstances have intervened and there suddenly is no door to close or no roof to shelter you and your children?
Since 1992, HOME of Somerset County has provided an emergency shelter program for families that stresses human dignity and empowerment. HOME—the acronym stands for “Housing Outreach Multi-Faith Empowerment”—serves two families referred by the Somerset County Board of Social Services at a time. “It can be any family makeup, as long as they have children under 18,” says Executive Director Alyssa Martini. “Single mothers. Single fathers. Married couples. We have also helped grandparents who had custody of grandchildren.”
At the heart of this effort is a network of about 40 interfaith congregations in the county that provide hospitality. Families spend the day at the HOME Flynn Day Center on West End Avenue in Somerville, where they receive counseling and support services, then are hosted at the congregations overnight.
The families stay with one congregation from Sunday to Sunday, then move to another congregation the following week. For privacy and safety, each family is given their own room. Volunteers provide transportation, greet the families, cook meals and pick up donated linens from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset to make the beds nightly. “It’s a family volunteer opportunity,” says Martini. “It gives parents a reprieve. A lot of congregations have children’s activities or volunteers bring their kids to play with the other kids. It connects people who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to connect.”
Participating Bridgewater congregations include Bradley Gardens Reformed Church, Bridgewater United Methodist Church, Finderne Reformed Church, Garden State Sikh Association and North Branch Reformed Church. “We are in an intensive outreach phase to gain additional host congregation sites,” Martini notes.
Although the typical stay in the emergency shelter is three to nine months, there is no time limit as long as the families remain in compliance with program guidelines and with social services. The ultimate goal, Martini says, is to empower families at risk of homelessness to achieve and maintain independence.
Beyond the emergency shelter program, HOME provides other gateways to a sustainable future. At Sunrise House, a transitional living facility provided in partnership with North Branch Reform Church in Bridgewater, families pay a modest rent while they gain skills, such as managing household finances, or work on educational and employment goals over 18 months. “There’s been some really significant wins coming from that house,” says Martini, citing graduates from the New Jersey Department of Corrections Correctional Staff Training Academy and a client who graduated with a Bachelor’s of Education degree.
Phase 2 is an independent living support program for families that have transitioned from the emergency shelter and are continuing in an intensive case management program. Neighbors In Need helps families that live independently but need support to strengthen their stabilization. Sound Minds provides mental health, crisis intervention and counseling services. “It’s important that we provide financial case management, mental health services and services like basic needs assistance to help prevent relapse into homelessness,” she says.
Its Bound Brook Families for Success program offers a bilingual case manager who identifies families in need. “This program is unique because families can be self-referred or referred by the community and do not need to come from Social Services,” Martini says.
The numbers speak volumes: 90 percent of families that have come through the emergency shelter program have maintained independence over the past five years. In 2025, HOME served 49 families with the help of over 1,000 volunteers and provided over 11,700 meals. “Volunteers are the heart of HOME,” Martini says. “Their time and talents are very deeply valued.”
Learn how you can help HOME of Somerset County serve families at risk for homelessness at homescnj.org.